鍵かぎっ子こ

noun

latchkey child; latchkey kid

Refers to a child who carries a house key and returns home alone because parents are working. Common in discussions of child welfare and social change.

• 共とも働ばたらきの家か庭ていが増ふえて、鍵かぎっ子こも多おおくなった。

  With more dual-income households, the number of latchkey children has increased.

• 小しょう学がく生せいのとき、私わたしは鍵かぎっ子こだった。

  When I was in elementary school, I was a latchkey kid.